Regional Cooperation in the Eurasian Region: Role of the SCO - Press Release issued by Institute of Policy Studies (IPS).

Islamabad -- July 24, 2023 (PPI-OT)

Following is the text of press release issued by Institute of Policy Studies (IPS)

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The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has the potential to create synergy and offers a viable alternative to SAARC, provided the regional problems are solved regionally. Unless the bilateral equations are settled and cohesion is maintained between member states, the future contours of SCO would remain undefined. This was observed during a roundtable discussion titled 'Regional Cooperation in the Eurasian Region: Role of the SCO' held at IPS on July 20, 2023. The forum analyzed the significance of the SCO as a vital platform for fostering regional stability, economic development, and connectivity in the Eurasian region, with a particular focus on Pakistan, and evaluated the outcomes of the SCO Summit hosted by India on July 4.

The roundtable was addressed by Ambassador (r) Masood Khalid, Pakistan's former ambassador to China, Dr. Sarwat Rauf, associate professor, NUML, Ambassador (r) Abdul Basit, Pakistan's former high commissioner to India, Ambassador (r) Syed Abrar Hussain, vice chairman, IPS, Meher Kashif Younis, veteran industrialist and former senior vice president Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Faisal Javed, assistant professor, FUUAST, Karachi, and Prof Dr. Fakhr-ul-Islam, director research and academic outreach, IPS. Underscoring the potential of the SCO, Ambassador Masood said that the organization has gained strength as compared to SAARC and ECO. The expansion of the SCO after inclusion of Iran along with the geographical spread of dialogue partners and observer states rooting for multipolarity instead of pledging to US-led Western domination has added a new dynamic to the evolving regional architecture of the SCO.

Despite having disputes, member states are keen to promote economic cooperation, linkages, trade, and access to the outside world. The security, development, and connectivity-driven regional architecture of the SCO provides Pakistan with an opportunity to engage proactively while aiming to become economically strong. Dr. Sarwat maintained that despite India misusing the SCO platform for blame game, Pakistan would remain in focus as a geostrategic location and trade hub. To Pakistan, the SCO may present a solution to the economic meltdown and security conundrum, provided embedded historical problems are resolved. In this regard, Pakistan needs to enhance multilateral diplomacy...